An Ion Channel Platform for Detection of Small Molecule Analytes

The development of detection assays for small molecule analytes based on ion channel proteins makes it possible to exploit the amplification properties of membrane pores in response to specific external stimuli. Here, we used C-terminal derivatives of an ion channel-forming peptide, gramicidin A (gA), to explore an ion channel-based method for monitoring environmental contamination such as toxins or lethal microorganisms. Our initial results suggest that the modified ion channel-forming peptides can respond to a range of tailored, external, small molecule stimuli to produce detectable changes in electrophysiological properties.